A CBT therapist and trauma rehabilitation specialist sought to develop a customized AI model to improve psychological assistance, moving away from traditional clinical frameworks. The primary objective was to create a tool that prioritizes resilience and practical coping strategies over immediate diagnosis and treatment.
About the Expert
Aleksandr Gershanoff is a highly regarded international expert in psycho-trauma with extensive experience in crisis intervention, trauma recovery, and psycho-educational training. He has been actively involved in the mental health field since 1997, working with individuals and communities affected by war, violence, and loss.
Key Roles and Expertise
For over 10 years, Aleksandr served as a coordinator at the Israel Crisis Management Center, supporting populations in conflict zones during four wars and multiple security escalations. He has also spent more than a decade providing social and psychological support to families coping with loss and bereavement.
Since 2014, Aleksandr has been leading specialized training programs on trauma intervention for mental health professionals in Ukraine as part of the Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC) initiatives. Following February 2022, he has played a crucial role in developing and overseeing all ITC projects for specialists and care providers in Ukraine, ensuring sustainable, evidence-based trauma support in the region.
Challenge: The Limitations of Traditional Psychological Models
Existing psychological models often rely on clinical terminology (e.g., “patient,” “pathology,” “disorder”), which can be discouraging for individuals seeking support. Many AI-driven psychological assistants focus on diagnosing mental health disorders rather than normalizing human reactions to trauma and stress. This approach often leads to premature treatment suggestions instead of fostering resilience and practical coping mechanisms.
Aleksandr Gershanoff: “This approach is less clinical and, therefore, extremely important. It is known as the salutogenic approach, a concept that originated in Israel from the word salut, meaning “health.” The idea is to focus on health promotion and well-being, while strengthening the healthy part of the psyche.”
“For example, when dealing with a psychological disorder, we typically apply various psychotherapeutic tools. However, alongside these, we can also integrate the salutogenic approach—helping the healthy part of the psyche regain balance and function effectively.”
Solution: A Strength-Based Psychological AI Model
The new AI model was designed with the following key features:
- Resilience-oriented approach: Instead of focusing on diagnosing mental health disorders, the model is built around strengthening resilience. It recognizes that reactions to trauma are normal and provides practical coping strategies to manage stress.
- Stage-sensitive trauma support: The AI helps psychologists determine where an individual is on the trauma scale and suggests appropriate interventions.
- Desensitization and emotional processing: The model integrates techniques that address thoughts, emotions, and physical responses to trauma, helping individuals regain stability.
- Practical and accessible language: By avoiding overly clinical terminology, the model makes psychological support more approachable and less intimidating.
Aleksandr: “This system is designed to bring more structure to psychological knowledge for therapists and counselors. The goal is to prevent them from rushing into treatment unnecessarily. There’s no need to “treat” something that isn’t there. Instead, they should rely on modern, evidence-based knowledge and apply it effectively in their practice and that’s exactly what the new model is bringing to them, because the newest knowledge, techniques are not on ChatGPT yet.”
Implementation and Collaboration
The psychologist collaborated with Boris Varer, a data engineer and expert in AI-driven models, to refine the existing models with the newest approaches and protocols. Their joint efforts included:
- Providing informational support: Creating mini-lectures and educational materials to help psychologists integrate the model into their practice.
- Identifying AI model limitations: Recognizing that existing chatbot-based assistants overly focus on clinical diagnoses and adjusting the model to address practical therapeutic needs.
- Adapting to real-world use: Ensuring that the AI tool remains accessible and beneficial to psychologists working with clients experiencing prolonged stress and trauma.
“This AI tutor will be effective in crisis counseling and short-term therapy, which are positioned on the timeline of trauma work before the clinical approach,” says Aleksander.
Impact and Benefits
The custom AI model will significantly improve the way psychologists approach trauma therapy by:
- Offering structured guidance to help psychologists avoid premature diagnoses.
- Acting as an intelligent tutor or supervising peer that aids in navigating trauma-related challenges.
- Helping psychologists better communicate with clients without overwhelming them with clinical terms.
- Supporting psychologists in maintaining a balance between therapeutic intervention and resilience-building.
Future Prospects
Looking ahead, the custom AI model for psychologists has the potential to:
Expand customization: Tailor AI capabilities to different therapeutic approaches.
Provide ongoing training and mentorship: Support psychologists in refining their skills without inadvertently overwhelming clients.
Serve as an auxiliary tool: Complement, rather than replace, human psychological expertise.
Conclusion
This case study demonstrates how a custom AI model can transform psychological support by prioritizing resilience over clinical diagnosis. By equipping psychologists with a practical, trauma-informed tool, this AI model is paving the way for more effective and compassionate psychological assistance in the modern world.
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